Courts

New Mexico Supreme Court Ruling Clarifies Scope Of Exceptions In Public Records Law

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New Mexico Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE – New Mexico’s highest court ruled today an investigative report for Albuquerque Public Schools about a former superintendent must be publicly disclosed under state law, although some information in the document potentially may remain confidential.

The Supreme Court directed the district court in Albuquerque to privately review the report and determine whether any information in it was protected from disclosure by an exception in the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) for “matters of opinion” in personnel files. That IPRA exception “does Read More

RPNM Responds To Temporary Injunction

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RPNM News:

Wednesday a Valencia County judge entered a temporary injunction against the Republican Party of New Mexico, its chairwoman and treasurer, and the state’s RNC committeeman.

The order prohibits, on pain of criminal contempt, all three of the aforementioned individuals from “publicly supporting” any Republican candidate in a contested primary. It also appears to direct Chairwoman Amy Barela to turn over the occupancy of the chair to the First Vice Chair, although the order’s duration is unclear, it does not direct the Party to hold new elections, and it does not declare the position Read More

USMS Task Force investigation Leads To Recovery Of Two Abducted Children From Missouri In New Mexico 

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U.S. Marshals Service News:

LAS CRUCES – On May 25, 2026, two children were abducted by a non-parental man in Missouri. An Endangered Person Advisory was broadcast to law enforcement and media in Missouri for the children.

On May 26, 2026, a lead was sent by the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Western District of Missouri to the District of New Mexico to help locate the two abducted children, and to apprehend the alleged abductor, Ralph Jones Jr., who is wanted by the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri for kidnapping.

Jones was believed to be traveling through New Mexico with Read More

NM Supreme Court Invalidates Man’s Convictions For Killing When He Was A Teenager

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COURT News: 

SANTA FE — The state Supreme Court today vacated the second-degree murder and evidence tampering convictions of a Valencia County man, Brandon Villalobos, for a killing that occurred when he was a teenager.

The Court unanimously concluded that Villalobos was denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial. He spent nearly six years in custody awaiting trial after his arrest in 2014 for the beating death of a 12-year-old friend, who was identified in the opinion by his initials, A.M. The Court reversed a decision of the state Court of Appeals that affirmed Villalobos’ convictions. Read More

FOG: Six Lawsuits … Hundreds Helped … One Mission … Help Keep Government Transparent

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By LUCAS PEERMAN
President, NMFOG Board of Directors
and
CHRISTINE BARBER
NMFOG Executive Director

In the past year, we filed lawsuits against six government offices that were breaking the law. And we’re investigating many others.

Your New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (NMFOG) continues to fight for transparency and the public’s right to know. We know you are well aware of our organization because you have been a supporter for years. Thank you!

But the battle is never-ending. And we need your continued support to ensure government officials take action only in the sunlight. Read More

Erik Paltrow Appointed Clerk Of United States District Court For District Of New Mexico

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COURT News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico announces the appointment of Erik Paltrow as the District’s Clerk of Court effective May 18, 2026. The appointment is located in Albuquerque, NM.

In this role, Erik is responsible for managing the administrative activities of the Clerk’s Office and overseeing the performance of the statutory duties of this office. The basic authority of the Clerk of Court is specified in 28 U.S.C. § 751. As the Court Unit Executive for the District Court, the Clerk of Court is appointed by the judges of the court in which he Read More

Supreme Court Upholds Man’s Child Abuse Conviction In Death Of Two-Year-Old In Las Cruces

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COURT News:

SANTA FE — The state Supreme Court today affirmed the conviction of a Doña Ana County man for intentional child abuse resulting in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2018.

In a unanimous decision, the Court rejected arguments by Lalo Anthony Castrillo IV that there was not enough evidence for the jury to find that he caused the death of Faviola Rodriguez and that he was wrongly denied a new trial.

The child died while Castrillo was babysitting the toddler overnight when the mother, his girlfriend, was working. An autopsy showed acute head and brain injuries inflicted about the time of Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Affirms Murder Conviction Of Man For Death Of His Wife In Roswell

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COURT News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court has upheld the convictions of a Chaves County man for the murder of his wife in 2017.

In a unanimous opinion written by Justice Michael E. Vigil, the Court rejected Castulo Aragon Jr.’s arguments that he should receive a new trial. The justices vacated one of Aragon’s three convictions for evidence tampering as a violation of constitutional protections against double jeopardy for multiple punishments for the same crime.

Aragons case returns to the trial court for resentencing after the dismissal of the one evidence tampering conviction.

Aragon Read More

Shiprock Man Sentenced For Firing At Occupants Of Vehicle

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Shiprock man was sentenced to seven years in prison for pointing a handgun at occupants of a vehicle and opening fire as they attempted to flee.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on Aug. 1, 2025, Bryson Chee, 43, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, arrived at a residence in Shiprock as a passenger in a vehicle with two others. After exiting the vehicle, Chee retrieved a handgun, pointed it at the occupants, and began shooting as they attempted to drive away.

Chee pleaded guilty to using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Clarifies Time Limitations On Civil Lawsuits

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Courtesy photo

COURT News:

SANTA FE — A New Mexico law providing a six-month grace period for refiling a dismissed lawsuit does not apply if the original civil action was started after the deadline for bringing the legal claim, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

In a unanimous opinion written by Chief Justice Julie J. Vargas, the state’s highest court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit by a Texas man, Jesus Moreno, to recover damages for injuries from an oilfield accident in 2017 in Lea County in southeastern New Mexico.

Moreno sued Ranger Energy Services, LLC, and Wildcat Oil Tools, LLC, in Read More